Are khat legal in Philippines?

Khat may not be brought into Philippines. Khat import prohibited This page covers what Bureau of Customs (BOC) allows across the border; whether you may then possess or carry it in public is a separate matter of Philippines's domestic law, which can differ by state, province, or city. Check both before travelling.

What are the penalties for undeclared khat in Philippines?

Fine up to 100000–10000000 PHP. Source: Bureau of Customs (BOC).

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Khat 🇵🇭 Philippines

Q: Can I bring Khat to Philippines?

Khat import prohibited Khat is legal and widely consumed in Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Djibouti, and Yemen but is a controlled substance in many Western countries. The UK classified khat as a Class C drug in 2014. The US lists cathinone as Schedule I, making khat illegal. G. Enforcement in Philippines carries fines from PHP 100,000 to PHP 10,000,000 under Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (RA 9165); CMTA s.1401 (smuggling). In the reverse direction (taking khat out of Philippines): prohibited — Khat is a controlled substance in Philippines — cathinone scheduling means there is no lawful personal export.

PROHIBITEDVERIFIED · 2026-07-25LOW CONFIDENCE

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Khat import prohibited

ANSWER

Can I bring Khat into Philippines?

PROHIBITEDVERIFIED · 2026-07-25LOW CONFIDENCE

Khat import prohibited

DECLARATION

Required at the destination customs authority

SOURCE

customs.gov.ph

Verify against the official customs authority before acting on this answer.Report a correction

Full details

Khat is legal and widely consumed in Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Djibouti, and Yemen but is a controlled substance in many Western countries. The UK classified khat as a Class C drug in 2014. The US lists cathinone as Schedule I, making khat illegal. G. Enforcement in Philippines carries fines from PHP 100,000 to PHP 10,000,000 under Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (RA 9165); CMTA s.1401 (smuggling). In the reverse direction (taking khat out of Philippines): prohibited — Khat is a controlled substance in Philippines — cathinone scheduling means there is no lawful personal export.

PENALTIES

Fine: 100000–10000000 PHP
Criminal penalty

ENFORCEMENT

Active — Customs actively enforces this rule.

Leaving Philippines with khat

PROHIBITEDKhat is a controlled substance in Philippines — cathinone scheduling means there is no lawful personal export.

Khat (Catha edulis) contains cathinone and cathine, which are scheduled substances in Philippines under Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act 2002 (RA 9165) — fresh khat is treated as a controlled drug, so possession and export are offences. Khat found at departure screening is seized and the carrier prosecuted under the same framework as at arrival. The plant is a licit commodity only in a small number of producing countries (Ethiopia, Kenya, Yemen); everywhere in this site's coverage of this route, carrying it across the border is unlawful.

PRACTICAL ADVICE

Do not carry khat (Catha edulis), fresh or dried, into Philippines. Bureau of Customs treats it as a controlled drug; carriage triggers seizure plus possible criminal charge under the local misuse-of-drugs statute. There is no permit pathway for personal use.

OFFICIAL SOURCES · VERIFIED 2026-07-25

customs.gov.ph

RULE DETAILS

CUSTOMS AUTHORITY

Bureau of Customs (BOC)

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AIR TRAVEL IS SEPARATE

This page covers destination customs rules in Philippines. Whether you can carry khat through security, in carry-on, or in checked baggage depends on airline and screening rules — see air travel rules.

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